Announcement: Debates in the Gahzette

[Sigurd]

Good day to all of you Backroomers.

The editor and I would like to try to do a monthly piece in the Gahzette where two of you would compete against each other in the art of debate.

The purpose of this thread is to firstly make an invitation to those of you who would be interested in participating and secondly to ask for good topics in debate.

So, who would be interested in participating and what topics should be debated?

Post either your interest in participation or a topic you would love seen being debated… or both.
There will be a panel of three referees who will determine the outcome and announce a winner in each debate.

The process of organising this debate has started and hopefully it will make the December issue of the Gahzette.
The Panel of referees will consist of me, sapi and one of you.
I am putting up the lists of topics and participants in this post and you can monitor it to check how things are progressing.

We have as of now the following proposed topics:

Abortion
Gun Rights/ Gun Control
Global Warming; man made or not?
What to do in Iraq?
The Israel – Palestinian conflict
int. peacekeeping operations
Socialised medicine
Smoking ban: yes or no?
Halo3

The members who have been willing to participate are:

Kamikhaan [What to do in Iraq? - xx]
Crazed Rabbit [Hand guns- pro] - Debate finished
{BHC}KingWarman888 [Gun control - pro?]
Beirut [socialised medicine - pro]
Inca [Global warming - yes]
RoadKill [Global warming - no, War in Afghanistan -xx]
Kukrikhan [any subject]
Bopa the Magyar [The Israel – Palestinian conflict – xx]
Louis VI The Fat [THE WALLOON MINORITY IN BELGIUM - flemish nationalist] - Debate in process
Waldinger [Hand guns - against] - Debate in finished
Andres [THE WALLOON MINORITY IN BELGIUM - francophobe] - Debate in process
Decker [the palestinian conflict - xx]
Don Corleone [any subject]
Bopa the Magyar [the palestinian conflict - xx]
Jimbob [Does God exist? - theist]
Sigurd Fafnesbane [Does God exist? - theist] (stepping in for Jimbob) - proposition is written and ready for submitting.

The - xx is an indication that no angle for discussion is defined.

What we need are more participants and the topics they would like to debate. We would like to pair opposing views in a debate so an indication on which side you would like to debate would be appreciated.



Sigurd (Gahzette)

[naut]

Abortion.

But, seriously, this sounds good, I'd love to read this in the gahzette when/if done.

[Pannonian]

I'd like to see Tribesman against one of the Americans.

[Stig]

I second Pann

tho Fragony tends to be "amusing" as well

[Tribesman]

I'd like to see Tribesman against one of the Americans.

Firstly I don't do debates , I just rip the piss . Secondly "one of the a Americans" is very broad category , one could even say it is a generalisation .

[Pannonian]

Firstly I don't do debates , I just rip the piss . Secondly "one of the a Americans" is very broad category , one could even say it is a generalisation .

It's not the debate that amuses me, but their reaction to you, and most of them, with one or two exceptions, react the same way.

[Fragony]

I wouldn't call saying bollox debating either, I'll give you that

[naut]

Hmmm... :prods DevDave into spotlight:.

[Tribesman]

I wouldn't call saying bollox debating either, I'll give you that

ah well that would be debateable .
It is a word that sums up much and is a clear and absolute response to the content of someone elses statement .
It also happens to be the word that one of our poltical party leaders over here says is his favourite word to use in debates in the Dail .
So since it is used by leaders of the opposition and by our "illustrious" leader in debates concerning the government of this country it appears that either you have just lost the debate or I just ripped the piss out of the content of your post ...or perhaps both .

[Seamus Fermanagh]

Rabbit v JAG on Gun rights/gun contol.

Who'll stand as seconds?

[woad&fangs]

Rabbit v JAG on Gun rights/gun contol.

Who'll stand as seconds?

Seconded

[seireikhaan]

Like an actual debate? Sure, I'm willing to go.

[Crazed Rabbit]

Rabbit v JAG on Gun rights/gun contol.

Who'll stand as seconds?

I'm down.

Seriously, I wouldn't mind doing a gun rights debate with someone.

Other fun topics (not for me) might include Global Warming; man made or not?

What to do in Iraq?

And for lots of fun: The Israel-Palestinian conflict.

CR

[naut]

And for lots of fun: The Israel-Palestinian conflict.

Give me a front-row ticket to see that one!

[ELITEofWARMANGINGERYBREADMEN88]

I'm done for a Gun Control Debate, but that about it I will do.

[Husar]

Ok, it's CR vs. Warman over gun control...

So warman takes the contra gun control side and CR...

[InsaneApache]

If there's a Tony Blair, genius or madman? debate, who on Earth can we ask to be the proposer?

[Ayachuco]

So I'm guessing this will be Cross-Examination style of debate with an affirmative side (w/burden of proof) and the negative side(stat quo) that will be 5 rounds (each round consists of one side proving their case or refuting/backing up their case) long with a period of cx between sides. And the last round being the summation round? Are you going to have topicality blocks or shells to test the validity of the subject? And they said I never paid attention in debate class...take that Mr. Ramsden.
Edit:as for the topic, I would like to see a gun control debate. My team didn't do very well with that topic but we kicked some UN butt w/ the topic about intl. peacekeeping operations

[Beirut]

And for lots of fun: The Israel-Palestinian conflict.

CR

Can I bring George & Martha to watch?

If there's one on socialized medicine, I'd be happy to take the communist, I mean socialized point of view.

[HoreTore]

If there's one on socialized medicine, I'd be happy to take the communist, I mean socialized point of view.

If ever there is a need for a commie...

[Caius]

What about the globalization? I would want to be on that one!

[Crazed Rabbit]

Can I bring George & Martha to watch?

If there's one on socialized medicine, I'd be happy to take the communist, I mean socialized point of view.

They'd have to be muzzled. No comments from the peanut gallery!

CR

[AntiochusIII]

You people are boring.

Popular topics are already popular, no need to waste Gahzette space on something like that. Debate about something craaazy or fun instead, yeesh.

...

[Boyar Son]

Tribes vs sfts

roswell incident

[Devastatin Dave]

Hmmm... :prods DevDave into spotlight:.

Unfortunately they probably won't allow my retort.

EDIT: Correct Dave, I won't. BG

[Incongruous]

Zionism's conquest of Palestine would be my choice.

[CountArach]

If ever there is a need for a commie...

Hehe, I would pay to see HoreTore vs anyone on a Socialist topic.

[Pannonian]

Hehe, I would pay to see HoreTore vs anyone on a Socialist topic.

Horetore vs Ice

[CountArach]

Now there is a matchup I would want to see!

[Sigurd]

I have started updating the opening post with the proposed topics and the members who are interested in participating.

We haven't made an absolute decision on how the mechanics will be in this.
What we would like is an opening statement from both participants stating their view (affirmative). This would be their proposition that underlines their view and why.

In round two there will be a chance for them to make comments on the opponent’s proposition. I guess the panel will decide who goes first. The first out will make comments on his/her opponents opening statement and the second out will have the chance to make comments on both his/her opponents opening statement and the opponent’s comments to his/her opening statement. We were thinking of a max 3 rounds, and whether this includes the concluding statement will be clear when we start this.

I doubt this will make it to the November issue of the Gahzette. But we plan for a great Christmas issue.

Many here mention the debate they would like to see. That is ok, but I can’t put up candidates other than those who have committed to participate. As of now there are only 3 members who has made the commitment.

The Debate I would have liked to see would have been Pindar vs. A.Saturnus on Does God exist? That would be a classical.